Timeline: Joe Maddon's career with the Tampa Bay Rays

Manager Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on from the dugout during the top of the seventh inning of a game against the Cleveland Indians on May 9, 2014, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. [Getty Images]

When Joe Maddon took over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the team had been hopeless for its entire existence. Within three years, the Rays took on a new name, a new look and a new winning attitude that sent them from last place to first.JOHN PENDYGRAFT | Times (2005)

Joe Maddon, left, manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays chats with his mother Albina Maddon Monday at the season opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. ERIC CONOVER/Hazleton Standard-Speaker

Fans hold up giant heads of manager Joe Maddon before the start of the World Series at the Trop.Times (2008)

Joe Maddon and the Rays erupt after an 11-inning victory over the Red Sox in Game 2 of the American League Champion-ship Series, which Tampa Bay eventually won in seven games.Times (2008)

Joe Maddon accepts his second AL manager of the year award after leading the Rays to a late-season comeback.Times (2012)

The glasses of Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon (Times photo by Dirk Shadd). (NOTE: this image is to be considered for the Rays special section cover and works in conjunction with pictures made by James Borchuck.)-2- CAPTION: (02/23/2006 ST. PETERSBURG)

Nov. 15: After 31 years in the Angels organization, Joe Maddon is hired as Devil Rays manager, replacing Lou Piniella.

2006

April 3: In Maddon's first regular-season game as manager, the Devil Rays lose to the Orioles 9-6 at Camden Yards.

Oct. 1: Maddon closes his first year as manager, a majors-worst 61-101.

2007

Sept. 8: The Rays pick up a two-year option that keeps Maddon under contract through 2009.

Sept. 30: Playing their final game as the Devil Rays and in their green uniforms, Maddon and Tampa Bay again finish with the majors' worst record, 66-96.

2008

June 5: At Fenway Park, a day after Boston's Coco Crisp's hard slide into Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura, Rays starter James Shields hits Crisp with a pitch. A bench-clearing brawl ensues. MLB suspends five Rays players for a total of 23 games.

Sept. 28: Maddon leads the Rays to their first AL East title, finishing 97-65. The Rays become the second team in history, joining the 1991 Braves, to go to the playoffs after having the majors' worst record the previous season.

Oct. 6: Maddon and the Rays defeat the White Sox in four games in the American League Division Series.

Oct. 19: In seven games, Maddon and the Rays oust the defending champion Red Sox in the American League Championship Series and go to the World Series to face the Philadelphia Phillies.

Oct. 29: Philadelphia defeats the Rays in five games to win the World Series.

Nov. 12: Maddon is named American League manager of the year.

2009

May 25: Maddon and the Rays agree to a contract extension that would keep him manager through 2012.

July 14: Maddon manages the American League All-Star team to a 4-3 victory over the National League.

Oct. 4: Maddon and the Rays miss out on the playoffs, finishing the season in third place in the AL East with an 84-78 record.

2010

Oct. 3: Maddon and the Rays win the AL East for the second time in three seasons with an AL-best 96-66 record.

Oct. 12: The Texas Rangers defeat the Rays in the AL Division Series in five games.

2011

Sept. 28: Trailing the Yankees 7-0 in the eighth inning of Game 162, the Rays come back to defeat New York 8-7 in 12 innings. The victory, coupled with a Red Sox loss, gives Tampa Bay the AL wild card. The Rays finish the regular season at 91-71.

Oct. 4: Maddon and the Rays again are defeated by Texas in the ALDS, this time in four games.

Nov. 16: For the second time, Maddon is named AL manager of the year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, receiving 26 of a possible 28 first-place votes.

2012

Feb. 14: Maddon and the Rays agree to a three-year contract extension worth about $6 million.

April 16: Maddon wins his 500th career game as Rays manager, defeating Boston 1-0 at Fenway Park.

Oct. 3: Maddon and the Rays finish with a 90-72 record but miss out on the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

2013

Sept. 30: After finishing with identical 91-71 records, Maddon and the Rays defeat Texas to determine who will play in the wild-card game.

Oct. 2: The Rays defeat Cleveland in the wild-card game, 1-0.

Oct. 8: Boston defeats the Rays in four games in the ALDS.

2014

Sept. 28: In what was to be Maddon's last game as Rays manager, Tampa Bay loses 7-2 to the Indians in Cleveland, finishing the season 77-85. Maddon finishes his tenure as Rays manager 754-705.

Oct. 24: Maddon exercises an opt-out clause in his contract and resigns as Rays manager.